Tool



July 1, 1930.

R. A. KAPLAN TOOL Filed July 15, 1927 INVENTOF? REUBEN A. HA PLAN F TTORNEys Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFICE REUBEN A. KAPLAN, OF OWATONNA, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOB, TO OWATONNA TOOL CO., OF OWATONNA, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA TOOL Application filed il'uly 15,

This invention relates to an improved tool,

particularly adapted for use to remove carbon deposits from the grooves of apiston.

An object of the invention is to provide A further object of the invention is to pro-' vide a tool for cleaning the grooves of a piston, including a yieldable supporting member comprising spaced legs, each havlng a adapted to en age a piston groove, at opposite sides of t 1e piston, and the supporting member being constructed of spring mate rial, whereby it will tend to hold the cuttingv terminals of the elements against the bottom of the piston groove so that when the tool is oscillated or rotated with respect to the piston, the terminals of the elements will engageand remove the carbon from the piston grooves.

A further object is to provide a tool of the class described including a yieldable supporting member comprising spring-actuated legs, each having a scraping and'cutting tool pivotally'mounted thereon, and said tools being arranged at an incline with respect to the longitudinal center line ofthe supporting member whereby the cutting terminals of the elements will simultaneously engage both upper and lower walls and the bottom of the piston groove, when the tool is operated.

The particular object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved tool particularly adapted for use to remove carbon deposits from the grooves of a piston, and, which is simple in construction and by the use of which, the carbon may be quickly and effectively removed from the piston grooves 1927. Serial no. 205,995.

out the various objects of the invention, but

it is to be understood that the invention is r not confined to the'exact features shown as various changes may, be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

h In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification; 7

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing a piston with the improved tool mounted thereon, and also showing theinclination of the cutting elements with respect to the supportingmember; i

Figure 2 is a'sectional line 2-2 of F igure, 1; and 1 v Figure 3 is a bottom view'of the toolas seen in Figure 1.

The novel tool featured in this invention comprises a supporting member having spaced legs 2 connectedby a coil 3, all of which are preferably integrally. formed of such material as spring steel. Each leg 2 has an outwardly turned portion 4, the terminals 5 of which are preferably flattened and aper tured to receive pins 6, as shown.

plan view the A cutting tool 7 preferably shaped like a crescent, andprovided with cutting terminals 8, is pivotally mounted on each end portion 4 of the supporting memberby means of the pins or rivets'6.

The cutting elements are preferably mounted atv an angle upon the curved end portions 4 of'the supporting member, as particularly shown in Figure 1. By thus mounting the cutting elements upon the supporting member, the scraping and cutting terminals thereof will simultaneously engage both the upper and lower walls of the groove, and also the bottom thereof, when the elements are positioned as shown in Figures land 2. The cutting elements'7 are also pivotally connected with the supporting member, and theconcaved edge '9 of each element is curvedin such a manner that'the intermediate portions of the elements between the terminals 8, will not engage the periphery or bottom of the piston groove, when the tool is positioned upon a pistonas'shown in Figure 2, thereby causing only the cutting terminals 8 of the elements to engage the piston groove, as shown in Figure 2. The pivotal connections of the elements with the portions 4 of the supporting member allow both cutting terminals of each element to engage the bottom of the piston groove with an equal pressure, as shown in Figure 2.

This novel tool has been found particularly valuable in automobile repair shops for removing and cleaning out carbon deposits from the grooves of a used piston. The spaced legs 2 of the supporting member provide, in effect, a handle for the mechanic to grip While using the tool. In use, the mechanic will usually grip the piston in one hand and the legs 2 of the supporting member in the other hand, after which he will oscillate or rotate the tool upon the piston, with the result that the cutting or scraping terminalsof the elements will remove the carbon deposits from the grooves. 'The de ree of pressure of the terminals 8 against the bottom of the groove may be controlled by the pressure or grip of the hand against the spaced legs2 of the supporting member.

The thickness of each cutting element is also preferably slightly less than the narrowest piston groove, so that the tool may be used for cleaning practically all standard widths of grooves, being limited only by the diameters of the pistons which, of course, cannot exceed beyond a predetermined point,

governed by the maximum span spread of the legs 2 of the supporting member. In Figure 1, the tool is shown as used for cleaning a piston ring groove, which is considerably wider than the thickness of the scraping and cutting elements. When thus used, the supporting member (legs 22) is slightly tilted downwardly or upwardly, as may be desired, to cause the upper and lower faces of the terminals to engage -respectively the, upper and lower walls of the piston ring groove. Thus, it will be seen that the tool is adapted for cleaning simultaneously both the upper and lower walls of the groove and also the bottom thereof.

The construction of this novel tool is very simple and inexpensive, and, by its use, the operation of removing carbon deposits from the grooves of a piston, is greatly expedited.

The cutting elements 7 are constructed of 4 Also, by forming the cutting elements as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tool, when posi tioned upon a piston, will have a four-point contact with the bottom of the piston groove, and the tension of the metal in the supporting member will automatically holdthe tool in position upon the piston. It has also been found that by providing two cutting elements arranged to engage the piston groove at opposite sides of the piston, that the operation of removing the carbon deposits is greatly expedited for the reason that a slight pressure of the hand upon the legs 22 of the supporting member will increase the degree of scraping and cutting pressure of the tool against the walls and bottom of the piston groove, whereby the carbon may be quickly removed from the piston ring groove. If desired, the piston may be clamped in a vice during the operation of cleaning the grooves, in which case the tool is rotated about the axis of the piston until the groove has been thoroly cleaned.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tool of the class described, the combination of a supporting member, comprising spaced coplanar legs, and elongated cutting elements mounted on said legs and adapted to engage a piston groove, said elements being arranged at an angle with respect to the plane of said legs.

2. In a tool of the class described, the combination of a supporting member having legs adapted to span a piston, cutting elements pivotally connected with said legs and adapted to engage a piston groove on opposite sides of the piston, and said cutting elements being arranged at an incline with respect to the longitudinal center line of said supporting member, whereby the cutting terminals thereof will engage simultaneously both the upper and lower walls of the groove and also the bottom thereof.

3. Ina tool of the class described, the combination of a yieldable supportin member comprising spaced legs integrally ormed of spring metal and connected by a coil, a scraping and cutting element pivotally and terminally connected with each of said legs, said elements having their opposed terminals sharpened and adapted to engage a piston groove to remove carbon deposits therefrom, when the tool is operated, and each tool being arranged at an incline with respect to the longitudinal center line of said supporting member, whereby they will simultaneously engage both the upper and lower Walls of the groove and also the bottom thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of July, 1927.

REUBEN A. KAPLAN. 

